Businesses warn blanket PET packaging ban in Islamabad could harm economy, recycling

ISLAMABAD  –  Businesses have raised serious con­cerns over restrictions on the sale of products packaged in polyeth­ene terephthalate (PET) bottles in Islamabad, warning that a blanket ban could disrupt economic activ­ity, undermine the established recy­cling industry and adversely affect government revenue.

Pursuant to directions issued by the Office of the Chief Commission­er/Chairman, Capital Development Authority (CDA), retailers and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies in ICT have verbally been instructed to discontinue the sale of products packaged in polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles across multiple categories. Furthermore, since last night, local administration authorities have started enforce­ment actions, including the sealing of retail outlets within ICT, retailers said. Businesses warned that these developments are causing serious concern and may also adversely af­fect government revenue genera­tion and broader economic activity.

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A blanket prohibition on PET pack­aging would be scientifically unsup­ported, environmentally counterpro­ductive, inconsistent with globally recognised circular economy prin­ciples, and detrimental to businesses operating in Pakistan. Such a mea­sure also appears inconsistent with both the spirit and objectives of the ICT Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023, as well as pre­vailing international best practices. PET is a lightweight, food-grade, and fully recyclable material supported by a well-established collection and recycling value chain. Unlike several other packaging materials, post-con­sumer PET bottles possess substan­tial commercial value and are actively utilised for the production of fibres, packaging materials, and recycled bottles. The existing PET recycling ecosystem supports economic activ­ity and livelihoods across the waste collection, sorting, and recycling sec­tors. A blanket ban on PET packaging risks undermining this established circular economy framework.

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Moreover, internationally accept­ed scientific life-cycle assessments evaluate packaging materials ho­listically, considering raw material extraction, manufacturing, trans­portation, collection, recycling, and end-of-life management. Replacing PET with alternatives such as glass, aluminium, or other single-use ma­terials may not necessarily yield su­perior environmental outcomes, as heavier materials can significantly increase transportation-related emissions, while others may re­quire greater energy and resource consumption during production. Accordingly, policy focus should re­main on strengthening collection, segregation, recycling, and waste management systems to prevent environmental leakage, rather than prohibiting a recyclable and eco­nomically valuable material. Lead­ing international regulatory frame­works, including the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), prioritise packaging recyclability, effective col­lection and recycling systems, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms instead of im­posing blanket bans on recyclable PET beverage packaging.

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